Next Waitemata Harbour Crossing – Critical for freight

Tuesday, 17th March, 2015

Planning to make a construction start on a new Harbour crossing within 10 years makes huge sense.

Welcoming news that NZTA has been asked to prepare a business case for another Waitemata Harbour Crossing, chairman of the Auckland Business Forum Michael Barnett pointed to a looming constraint of freight vehicle use of the existing bridge ‘clip-on‘ lanes.

Restrictions on heavy trucks using the clip-on lanes were expected by about 2020. “This will force trucks into the centre lanes and with Auckland’s population growth add to congestion on the bridge,” he warned.

“We need to be ready and give certainty that North Shore’s and Northland’s ‘economic lifeline’ infrastructure is able to meet demand.”